Unless you’re a car person, the name Vanguard Motor Sales might just sound like another used car dealership selling mid-priced sedans. But for those in the know, Vanguard is the holy grail of classic American cars.
I wouldn’t describe myself as a “car guy,” but when I stepped into the 80,000-square-foot showroom in Plymouth, I was taken aback. It felt like the Woodward Dream Cruise on steroids. With more than 100 unique cars in one place, the history in the room was palpable.
Since Vanguard owns all its inventory, it has total creative control over its cars. Customers seem to trust the business’s expertise, since 98% of its sales come from people who haven’t seen the cars in person.
And while Vanguard’s nearly 13 million social media followers get a glimpse behind the scenes, nothing can replicate sitting back in the driver’s seat of a mint-condition 1979 Lincoln Continental and pretending you’re Paul Castellano or sounding the siren on an exact replica of Starsky and Hutch’s 1974 Gran Torino. Although I’m not in the market to buy either of those cars, these experiences gave me a better understanding of the level of time and effort (and money) dedicated to each vehicle.
After visiting Vanguard, I doubt I’ll ever watch Gone in 60 Seconds or Bullitt the same way after seeing their real-life car counterparts in person.
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner Retractable
Like many cars from this era, the 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner Retractable has many design elements inspired by the Space Age. With taillights designed to look like a rocket’s propulsion system and a spacecraft-like hood ornament, the ’59 Fairlane is a true product of its time. This car came complete with the Continental Kit, extending the rear bumper and adding an exterior spare tire.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
1965 Shelby Cobra Superformance
1957 Oldsmobile Super 88
1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V
A time capsule from an age of luxury, this 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V was the longest two-door coupe Ford ever built. Inside, no expense was spared, with a Cartier dashboard clock (below) and pillowy blue leather bucket seats (above). The ’79 has a factory-built garage door opener (the first of its kind), a CB radio, and an 8-track tape player.
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Restomod
1979 Ford Bronco 4×4
This restomodded 1979 Ford Bronco 4×4 maintains its classic look while providing modern performance upgrades. The Free Wheeling package gave the Bronco its distinct gradient body graphics while keeping its rugged, off-road-capable look. This ’79 Bronco is powered by a 7.3L Godzilla V8, the same engine behind the latest Ford heavy-duty trucks. The gauge clusters are digital versions of the original triple-square instrument systems, which highlights the level of precision behind these restomods.
1959 Ford Fairlane 50 Galaxie Skyliner
1966 Chevrolet Chevelle
1965 Shelby Cobra
This story originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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